What to Expect During Your Solar Installation

Your solar journey begins with a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our energy specialists. This can happen over the phone, via video call, or in person at your home. During this conversation, we will discuss your current electricity usage and bills, your energy goals (bill reduction, battery backup, energy independence), your property type and roof characteristics, your budget and preferred payment options (including $0 upfront plans), and any questions or concerns you have about going solar.

We will review your recent electricity bills to understand your consumption patterns and recommend a system size that matches your needs. There is absolutely no pressure to commit. This step is about gathering information and making sure solar is the right decision for you.

Once you express interest in proceeding, we conduct a thorough site assessment. For many properties, we can complete an initial assessment remotely using satellite imagery and council records, which speeds up the process. For more complex installations, we may schedule an on-site visit.

The assessment covers your roof orientation, tilt angle, and available space for panels. We check for any shading from trees, buildings, or other structures throughout the day and across seasons. We examine the condition and material of your roof (tile, tin, colorbond), your switchboard condition and whether it needs upgrading, the distance from panels to the inverter and meter, your electrical connection type (single-phase or three-phase), and any local council or network requirements specific to your area.

This assessment ensures we design a system that maximises production and meets all technical and safety requirements.

Based on the site assessment and your energy profile, our design team creates a custom solar system tailored to your home. Your detailed proposal will include the recommended system size (in kW), the specific panel brand and model with specifications, the inverter type and brand, a production estimate showing expected daily and annual output, and a financial projection including estimated savings and payback period.

The proposal also shows the STC rebate value applied as an upfront discount, the total cost after rebate and any applicable payment plan options, warranty details for all components, and a visual layout of where panels will be placed on your roof.

We walk you through every detail of the proposal and answer any questions. If you want to adjust the system size or change any components, we are happy to revise the design until you are completely satisfied.

Once you approve your system design and sign off, we handle all the necessary paperwork and approvals on your behalf. This includes the electricity distributor application to connect your solar system to the grid (submitted to Ergon Energy or Energex depending on your location), any council approval or notification requirements, and the STC assignment form which applies your government rebate as an upfront discount.

If you are using a payment plan, we also process the finance application. We then schedule the installation date that works for your calendar. This stage typically takes 1-3 weeks depending on the distributor's processing times and any council requirements. We keep you informed at every step and let you know as soon as your installation date is confirmed.

Installation day is when everything comes together. Our installation team arrives at the agreed time, usually between 7:00 and 8:00 AM. The team typically consists of 2-4 CEC-accredited installers depending on the system size. We will briefly walk you through the plan for the day and confirm the panel layout.

The installation process follows this sequence: First, we install the mounting system on your roof, which involves securing rails and brackets to your roof structure. Next, the solar panels are lifted onto the roof and fixed to the mounting system. Then, DC cabling is run from the panels down to the inverter location. The inverter is mounted and connected. All wiring is connected to your switchboard, and a final safety check and system test is performed.

For a standard residential system (6.6kW to 10kW), installation typically takes one full day, approximately 5-8 hours. Larger or more complex systems may take a day and a half. During installation, your power will need to be switched off briefly (usually 30-60 minutes) while we connect to your switchboard.

After installation is complete, the system must pass an electrical inspection to ensure it meets all Australian Standards and safety requirements. In many cases, our accredited electricians can self-certify the installation on the same day. In some jurisdictions, an independent inspector may need to verify the work.

The inspection checks that all wiring is correctly and safely installed, all components are properly grounded and protected, the system complies with AS/NZS 5033 and AS/NZS 4777, safety switches and isolation points are correctly configured, and the system operates within all specified parameters. You will receive a Certificate of Compliance for the electrical work, which is an important document to keep for your records and warranty purposes.

Once the installation passes inspection, we notify your electricity distributor (Ergon or Energex) that the system is ready for connection. The distributor will remotely configure your smart meter to register solar exports, or in some cases, will send a technician to install or reconfigure your meter.

The grid connection process typically takes 1-10 business days after the installation is complete and inspected. During this waiting period, your solar system may already be operating and powering your home, but exports to the grid will not be recorded or credited until the meter is updated. We follow up with the distributor on your behalf and notify you as soon as the grid connection is active.

Once your system is fully connected and operational, we schedule a handover session to ensure you know how to get the most from your solar investment. During the handover, we will show you how to read your inverter display and understand the key indicators, set up and walk you through the monitoring app on your phone, explain how to interpret your production, consumption, and export data, and share tips for maximising self-consumption and savings.

We also explain your warranty coverage and what to do if you notice an issue, and provide all documentation including your warranty certificates, compliance certificate, and system specifications. This session typically takes 30-45 minutes and can be done in person or via video call. We want you to feel completely confident operating and understanding your system.

In the first two weeks after your system is live, we monitor its performance remotely to ensure everything is producing as expected. We check that production levels match the design estimates, compare your output with local weather conditions, verify that the monitoring system is transmitting data correctly, and identify any early issues that need attention.

If we spot anything unusual, we will contact you proactively. Most systems perform flawlessly from day one, but this extra layer of monitoring provides peace of mind during the initial period.

Your relationship with Smart Solar Group does not end at installation. We provide ongoing support to ensure your system continues to perform at its best for decades to come. Our aftercare includes remote system monitoring and performance alerts, a dedicated support line for any questions or concerns, warranty administration if any component needs attention, and advice on optimising your energy usage as your needs change.

We also provide guidance if you want to add a battery or expand your system in the future, and periodic performance reviews to ensure your system is meeting its savings projections. We are a local Queensland company, which means we are here for the long haul. You will never be left dealing with an overseas call centre or an installer who has left the area.